Just to see if he is pleased. All others have less priority. Did the visitors enjoy the worship service? First, we need to ask if God is pleased with our worship. Did the young people enjoy it? First, did our Master enjoy?

But what about the prominent people? They certainly are important. They hold positions, serve on the board, and tithe consistently. But first, is Jesus pleased? Others are important, but Jesus.

Maybe the questions we ask need to be re-worked. Re-examine our priorities. Check the leanings of our hearts. Then always glance at the Master’s face. Make sure he is pleased.

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There was an intercessor in our church whose husband was not a believer. One day he observed her sitting on a mat and praying for our city, state, and country. He began making fun of her by asking: “What are you doing? Did you take out a contract for the whole country?”

Some people have a deep burden for those in distress and pain. How do you handle those who are walking a dangerous path? Surely they know the dangerous situation they’re in. They don’t need to be reminded of that. In fact, they hate being warned or corrected.

Job made it a priority to intercede for his children (Job 1:4-5). His children had the habit of feasting with all the siblings together. Potentially not a dangerous practice as that was sort of a family gathering.

But Job wanted to intercede for them as a measure of safety. He said: “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5b). This was a constant practice for Job.

Intercessors are a peculiar type who make it their business to intercede for others in whatever situation they are in. It’s a calling, and a burden in their hearts for others. Would you be bold and step up to intercede for those around you?

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The broken can become dreamers and visionaries. But first they need to handle their brokenness. They need to come terms with it and resolve it within their hearts.

Then they can begin dreaming. The dreaming will often begin from the point of their brokenness. Dreams will develop within them specifically for people in similar circumstances. This is why they first need to come to terms with their own broken situation.

The dreaming, if developed or nurtured, can mature to the point of developing vision. And vision, with the help of good leadership development and mentors, will turn this person into a Visionary leader.

Broken – Dreamer – Visionary

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We have carefully defined a set of cause and effect patterns that seem logical to us. But life just seems to “happen” all of a sudden. It comes in the most unexpected way and without warning.
You said that God was your strength and confidence (Job 4:7). You held on to integrity in all your interactions with others. They mocked you for holding on to integrity, but you held firm and said that since you trust God, you will continue in such ways.
We have certainly seen the wicked perish (Job 4:8). Those who do evil may prosper for a while, but eventually their lives fall apart right before our eyes.
But let’s think logically. Can human beings ever be right before God? (Job 4:17) Will we ever have the right to stand up to God? We may do some good things and try to live an acceptable life. But is that ever enough for a holy and righteous God?
We want to make sense of everything in life, but that just doesn’t work. We need to trust God. He is faithful. He knows what is best.
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She was accused of the most shameful act in her society. Even her fiance’ thought the same as all others. Then he became silent. But the people continued. The gossip in the village was thick.

Whenever something would go wrong or whenever someone would get sick, the neighbors would refer to the home of the “wayward woman.” They never said anything directly to her – only to her children. They would come home and ask her what they said. But Mary kept silent. They wouldn’t understand.

Having a child out of wedlock, would normally incur the wrath of the community. The religious leaders and community leaders would take the initiative to have her stoned to death. But it was her finance’s words that saved her.

Then at her son’s baptism, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God came down on him like a dove. Then the voice of God said:

“This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17).

Now, the public shame was publicly settled by Jesus’ Father. Settled once and for all, Mary went home in peace.

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When you are cornered on every side, and there is no hope for you in sight, what would you do? If God is not your shield and he is not the one you run to in times of trouble, where is your hope? For Job, death seemed to be the best option (Job 3:11-23).
In the midst of tragedy, would I come to such a conclusion? Would you? This is where unanswered prayers become a blessing. God is gracious to us. We may have longed for death just like Job:

“Why is light given to him who is in misery; and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than hidden treasures, who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” (Job 3:20-23)

Like Job, our only hope may be death. And nothing else. As a matter of fact, it may become the ultimate longing of our hearts. But God ignores such requests.
In the midst of tragedy, the longing for death may be a natural response. It is during such times that God blesses us with unanswered prayers. Maybe it’s time for us to give up and let God do his work. He chooses to lead us through a more difficult path in which he can do things in us and through us that are much beyond our thinking.
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You’ve been wanting to get rid of some things in your life. On top of that list are habits and attitudes that ultimately work against you. You know that in the long run, these are the things that will keep you from moving forward – and may ultimately break you.
I’m constantly reminded of the words of the old song “…and the things of earth will grow strangely dim” (Turn your eyes upon Jesus). Those things you want to get rid of will get pushed back to the shadows as the light of Jesus shines brighter in your heart.
But the struggle increases when the light comes on. Those unwanted things begin to show up even brighter than ever before. This is why people often wonder why trouble increases when they come to Jesus. At this point, bring it to Jesus and crucify the fleshly desires that wage war against your soul.
It is at this point that the things of this life begin to grow dim. The light of Jesus comes and shines on you and brings a shadow on those things you need to get rid of.
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Out of a genuine desire to help people in distress, we often try to say consoling words. Sometimes we may even try to come up with reasons why their problem has occurred. There can also be an attempt to find some ultimate good or purpose for the suffering. Each of these attempts turn out futile as those who suffer cannot think beyond their suffering.
In the Bible, Job was a man who experienced horrific and multiple tragedies in his life. When word got out, three of his friends came and sat with him silently for seven days. Certainly the presence of his friends was comforting for him (Job 2:13).
Finally his friends broke the silence and each one began to speak in turn. But their words turned out to be disastrous for a man in such a situation. Maybe it was better that they kept their mouths shut (Job 16:2-3).
The presence of friends and family bring a certain level of assurance that  we’re not alone. Couple that with solitude and it can be a great source of inner strength that will help us to face challenges. Times of solitude can be an opportunity to experience God’s presence. So cut the distractions and spend time alone with God and sit silently with those who suffer.
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I searched for a T-shirt to wear. “This one is a nice one. I’ll save it for later, for another time when I go someplace.” I have a tendency to keep old, worn out shirts so I can wear them at home or for my morning walks. But this time I caught myself. Why can’t I wear the nicer one for myself? Maybe It’s time to reconsider my perspective.
I began thinking in such “minimalist ways after I began reading Leo Babauta’s writings. Although I don’t consider myself to be a minimalist, my thinking has begun to shift. I’ve begun to let go of old, useless items that I thought I might need some day.
But what about the T-shirt? I wore the nicer one. And I continue to choose the nicer ones to wear. But I haven’t found a better, more comfortable substitute for old, worn out blue jeans.
Some of you who read this may relate with this struggle. Our self-image truly does impact our confidence and work.
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It’s an unimaginable thought. The word “evil” mentioned in Job 2:10 can be translated as disaster or calamity. But it’s difficult to think of God causing trouble or disaster in our lives.
But God in his sovereignty knows what it takes to build us and mold us. His aim is to transform us into his own likeness. Sometimes it takes problems and even disaster to break off unwanted things in us so that God can build what is required for us to become more like him everyday.
When everything fell apart in his life, his wife asked a question that is a common thought for many: “Why don’t you just commit suicide?” She knew that God was his only hope, but even God wasn’t responding. Now the only option for her was death.
God is not the author of evil. But God was there in the disaster. Nothing makes sense in life, but as long as God is present he will make sense of all things. He has a plan for our lives. Trust him till the end.
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